Combined check-rower and self-dropping corn-planter



2. L J N, A M nn... uu T A W COMBINED GHBGK R No. 328,160.

OWER ANDSBLP DROPPING CORN PLANTER.

Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. L. WATERMAN, Jr. COMBINED GHEGK ROWER AND SELF DROPPING, com: PLANTBR.

No. 328,160.. Patentedfoct. 13.1885.

Nv PETERS. Phclo-Lilhognphor. Wnddnon. D. C.

ITED STA-TES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN IVATERMAN, JR., OF CRESTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- v MENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO WILLI-AM H. DO'IY AND CHARLES W. DOTY, OF

GALEsBURG, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED CHECK-ROWER vAND SELF-DROPPING CORN-PLANTER.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,160, dated October 13, 1885.

Application filed April 30', 1885. Serial No. 163,917. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN WATERMAN, Jr., of Creston, in the countyl of Union and State ofv Iowa, have invented a new, useful, and

Improved Combined Check-Bower and Self.

- Dropping Corn-Planter, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side Io View. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalview taken lupon the line x fr, Fig. 1,viewed in the direc'- tion of the arrow there shown. Figl 4 is a detail view of the inner end of one Aof the wheel-hubs, showing the ratchet mechanism for operating the check-rower, the axle being likewise shown in section. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional view in detail of said hub, ratchet, and check-rower mechanism, taken upon the line y y, Fig. 4,viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown; and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view in detail upon the line zz, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction ofthe arrow there shown, of the mechanism by which the dropper is operated.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined cheek-rower and self-dropping cornplanter, the form er or marking feature of which 3o may be operated by means of the revolutionof the wheels, while at the same time said device may be made adjustable to provide for variations which may occur by reason of irregularities in the surface of the ground to be 3 5 planted, thus enabling the operator to change said machine while in use, to compensate for such variations as may be caused by said surface irregularities, and to keep the cross-rows straight.

4o In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, to which bearings a, Fig. 5, are att-ached, and into which the axle B is loosely secured. The runners C C, with the customary seed-boxes c c and dropping mechanism,

are attached in the usual manner tothe crossbar A of the frame. Suitable shoulders-one of which is shown at b, Fig. -are attached to the axle to prevent a longitudinal movevis shown in FigsAC and 5,-are loosely attachedto the hubs D D', and held in engagement lwith theoratchets B B'by'springs d' d, so that fwhen the wheels D are revolved in thev direc- `tion of the curved'arrows shown in Fig. 4 the axle BA is caused to revolve in unison there- ,-with.` This arrangement enables the wheels to rotate in an opposite direction without moving the axle; or the axle may be turned in a forward direction while the wheels remain 'stationary. Upon the respective ends ofthe vaxle-spindles I place one or more, but pre. ierably three, radial markers, E, Ithe 'ends of the spindles being squared, as shown inlFig. f5. toreceive said markers, which are attached thereto by means of nuts e,-s0 thatsaid markers, which are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 2,are caused to revolve with the axle.

To enable the ymachine to be driven upon hard ground without injury to the markers, I make the main arms thereof somewhat shorter than the radius of the wheel, and add thereto jointed extensions e c e', which may be attached by means of bolts and nuts e2 e2 e2, upon loosening which said extensions may be reversed, and the markers thus shortened, but in actual use they are extended, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

To enable the operator to turn the axle independently of the wheels, and thus adjust the markers E to any desired position, I attach a ratchet-wheel, F, Figs. 1 and 3, to the axle B, adapted to be engaged by a pawl, g, attached t0 ahand-lever, G, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the lower end of which is loosely secured to said axle. Upon reciprocating said lever the axle may be revolved to any extent desired independently of the wheels, and the markers E may be thus placed in line at any time with the cross-rows.

Keyed to the axle is a gear-wheel, H,which engages a secondary gear-wheel or pinion, J, rigidly attached to a shaft, j, provided with cam-shaped arms K K, Figs. 1, 3, and 6, the extremities of which are curved in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 3, while they likewise have an opposite lateral inclination in a plane oblique to the axis of the shaftj, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.-

A dropvlever, L, pivoted to the cross-bar A at Z, and one end of which is connected by a pin or bolt, l, to the drop slide or bar Z3, is preferably provided upon its opposite end with a friction-roller, Z", which is adapted to be alternately engaged by the arms K K as the shaft j is revolved, thus reciprocating the bar Z. rlhe wheels H J should be so proportioned in size as to produce a half-revolution of the shaftj and a corresponding movement of' the slide l with each respective impression in the soil of the markers e. The hearing of the shaft j is capable of being moved in the frame A by means of a lever, M, which is pivoted to a suitable bracket or support attached to said frame,as at m, Fig. 6, the shaft 2o j passing loosely through the lower end of said lever. By moving said lever M backward or forward the gear-wheel J may be thrown out or into mesh with the wheel H. To lock the same in one or the other position, as required, a spring-catch, m, Fig. 2, may be attached to the lever M, which may engage in the usual manner in notches formed in an i arch or guard, m2, bolted to the frame A.

An adjustable seat, N, bolted to a support, a, the bolt of which is adapted to be moved back and forth in a slot in said support, may enable the operator to balance the runners C, and to raise `and lower the same at will. By attaching the tongue O directly to the axle, and allowing a vertical play thereof within the guard 0, Fig. l, the raising and lowering of the runners may be readily accomplished.

It is obvious that in the event of the marl@ ers being thrown out of line with the crossrows, by reason of the unevenness of the sur face, or from other causes, the same may at once be adjusted by a greater or less movement of the lever G, while the dropping mechanism, being controlled wholly by the revolution of the axle, is changed in a correspond ing degree.

The advantages of said machine are that by it the rows may be checked with certainty and accuracy, while the dropping mechanism is automatic, thus dispensing with the services ot' an assistant.

I do not claim, broadly, herein any of the improvements patented to T. F. Tanner, June l0, 1879, nor to G. B. Vaughan, October 25, 1870.

What l do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the axle B, arms E, wheelsD, hub-ratchets B', ratchet F, lever G, gears H J, arms K K with lever L and drop bar Z3, all arranged and constructed substantially as described,

2. The combination, with the axle and wheels of a corn-planter, ofthe ratchets B B and F, lever G, gear-wheels H J, shaft j, arms K with lever L, drop-lever l, and means, as the lever M, for throwing said mechanism in and out of gear, substantially as set forth.

LYMAN VATERMAN, J R.

WVitnesses:

J. D. CAMPBELL, J. W. SNIRELY. 

